City services restored in Iqaluit
Schools, GN offices also reopen after lunch
Poor weather and visibility on Iqaluit’s roads prompted the closure of several services in the Nunavut capital Wednesday morning. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
This story was updated at 12:15 p.m. ET.
A winter storm kept Iqaluit city trucks and school buses off the roads for three hours Wednesday morning.
The City of Iqaluit announced at 7:30 a.m. it would not be plowing roads, providing water services, waste management or garbage pickup, citing reduced visibility, high winds and unsafe road conditions.
A second announcement came out at around 10:15 a.m. saying city services had been restored.
The Nunavut government also announced its offices would reopen at 1 p.m. after a morning closure.
The Iqaluit District Education Authority announced on social media that Aqsarniit, Inuksuk, Joamie and Nakasuk schools would open after lunch. The authority had announced in the morning that the roads were not safe for school buses.
The temperature in Iqaluit Wednesday morning was -20 C with 39 km/h winds gusting to 55 km/h, with blowing snow. By 10:30 a.m., the sun was out.
…and at this point everyone in Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay are saying “What?”
It’s ok. They only give us a few every year. Many more than that and even less would get done up here.
Long term residents of Iqaluit were saying “What?”
Meanwhile, long term readers are rolling their eyes at this very predictable comment.
Right? Acting like some communities don’t get a blizzard day if someone at Environment Canada sneezes loud enough. Looking at you Pangnirtung.
I’ve driven home in plenty of complete white-outs because Nunavut’s engine must keep turning.